Birkenstock Launches Vegan Shoe Line in US

Customer demand for cruelty-free hippie shoes drives company to bring vegan sandals and clogs to the United States.

German-based shoe company Birkenstock launched their vegan shoe line in the United States this week. The line features styles such as the The Boston clog, The Gizeh thong sandal, and The Arizona sandal made with synthetic uppers and microfiber contouring foot beds. The line was previously only available in European markets and its American debut is driven by customer demand for vegan options. “This season, we are offering more styles to the US market and marketing them as a true Vegan Collection,” Birkenstock spokesperson Scott Radcliffe told Yahoo Style. “We decided to increase our product portfolio with vegan styles to cater to Birkenstock fans that look equally for animal-friendly products as well as comfort and style.” Major shoe companies are positioning themselves as more sustainable by creating vegan lines—including Swedish brand Vagabond, which launched its “non-animal’ shoe collection last year.